Esperanza’s Team Effort Enough to Beat Marina

Leah Combs hasn’t had the kind of season she did last year when she was a Times all-county player, but it hasn’t mattered.

Allison Gerber’s offense, and the defense played by Heidi Hill and Beth Weidler on Natalie Nakase, showed why Esperanza is ranked third in Orange County and alone in first place in the Sunset League after its 63-51 victory Thursday over fifth-ranked Marina.

Esperanza’s team effort included a 45-34 rebounding advantage--22-15 on the offensive end--as the Aztecs improved to 13-6, 4-0 in league. Marina is 16-4, 3-1.

The Vikings usually get fat with their fullcourt pressure, but held only an 11-8 advantage in points off turnovers despite a 17-11 edge in turnovers.

“Marina’s a real aggressive team and we matched them blow for blow,” Esperanza Coach Marc Hill said. “They play aggressively, and you have to be able to handle the ball. We did a good job of cutting down on turnovers.”

Combs had 10 points and 13 rebounds, but Gerber (17 points) was the offensive star. Her consecutive baskets opening the third quarter extended Esperanza’s three-point lead to 32-25. With a nine-point lead going into the fourth quarter, Gerber matched a Marina three-pointer and Esperanza converted all 10 of its free throws, including eight by Kim Omer (14 points).

“When teams practice for us, they look at Combs and they look at Omer,” Heidi Hill said. “That’s where Gerber’s points come from.”

Gerber (11.9 points) is Esperanza’s leading scorer, followed by Combs (11.3) and Omer (10.2). It’s all part of the bigger picture at Esperanza, where the Aztecs rely less on Combs and more on balance and key contributions. Hill and Weidler were charged with stopping Nakase--an all-county guard.

Though Nakase got 12 points and 10 assists, her driving layup at 3:10 in the second quarter that gave Marina its final lead, 23-22, was her last field goal until a three-pointer with 14 seconds left. She missed nine in a row.

“We knew stopping Nakase and interrupting the chemistry between Nakase and the club was crucial,” Omer said.

Chanda McLeod led Marina with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

In other Sunset League games:

No. 8 Edison 44, Los Alamitos 41--Edison (18-2, 3-1) outscored Los Alamitos, 15-3, in the first quarter and held on behind Christina Patterson’s 17 points and nine rebounds. Kristin Geoffroy scored 18 for Los Alamitos (11-9, 1-3).

Huntington Beach 50, Fountain Valley 40--Courtney McKinney led the Oilers (10-11, 1-3) with 20 points and 16 rebounds.